Bush blasts earmarks, signs domestic spending bill

December 27, 2007

The Washington Post WACO, Texas - President Bush signed a $555 billion domestic spending bill into law Wednesday, but not without taking a swipe at Congress for including pet projects totaling nearly $10 billion. The president lauded the 2008 omnibus spending bill for not requiring any tax increases, while also adequately funding U.S. troops without imposing ''arbitrary timelines for withdrawal'' from Iraq. But he sharply criticized lawmakers for including nearly 10,000 so-called earmarks - appropriations steered toward favorite projects and organizations that have come under increased scrutiny from fiscal conservatives and budget watchdog groups. ''I am disappointed in the way the Congress compiled this legislation, including abandoning the goal I set early this year to reduce the number and cost of earmarks by half,'' Bush said in a statement. ''These projects are not funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for wasteful government spending.'' White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president expects James Nussle, director of the Office of Management and Budget, to continue looking into ways to curtail earmark spending where the budget language allows it. Democratic leaders in Congress have praised the spending bill, which they said features several of their top priorities including more money for veterans' benefits, college assistance and incentives for reducing carbon emissions. They rejected Bush's criticism, accusing the president as they have done repeatedly in the past of throwing the federal budget into imbalance with war spending and tax cuts. ''This administration is in no position to lecture anyone on fiscal responsibility,'' said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.